Children{3 s corrective foot splint

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a foot splint for correcting abnormalities and foot deformations that are sometimes found in newborn and young children. It includes relatively fixed, angularly related foot supports, each having lateral supports for applying a lateral inwardly directed force against the outer surface of the heel of a foot positioned on the foot support and strap means for supporting each foot to its respective foot support and for applying a laterally directed force opposing that of the force applied to the heel of the foot and to inhibit medial rotation of the forefoot.

United States Patent [1 1 Reiman 1 Oct. 7, 1975 CHILDRENS CORRECTIVE FOOT SPLINT [76] Inventor: Reuben H. Reiman, 23 Beachway,

Port Washington, NY. 11050 [22] Filed: Aug. 14, 1974 [21] Appl. No.1 497,196

[52] U.S. Cl. 128/80 A; 128/80 J [51] Int. Cl. A61F 3/00 [58] Field of Search 128/80 A, 80 R, 87, 83

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,514,870 7/1950 Israel 128/80 A 2,920,620 1/1960 Rogers 128/80 A FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,126,942 12/1956 France 128/80 A OTHER PUBLICATIONS,

A Universal-Joint Club-Foot Splint, by Gibson,

Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery, Vol. 36A, No. 3, June 1954, pp. 658, 659.

Primary ExaminerRichard A. Gaudet Assistant ExaminerJ. Yasko Attorney, Agent, or FirmBauer & Amer [5 7] ABSTRACT The invention relates to a foot splint for correcting abnormalities and foot deformations that are sometimes found in newborn and young children. It includes relatively fixed, angularly related foot supports, each having lateral supports for applying a lateral inwardly directed force against the outer surface of the heel of a foot positioned on the foot support and strap means for supporting each foot to its respective foot support and for applying a laterally directed force opposing that of the force applied to the heel of the foot and to inhibit medial rotation of the forefoot.

3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Oct. 7,1975

CHILDREN'S CORRECTIVE FOOT SPLINT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a foot splint for attachment to the feet of children for correcting such abnormalities and deformations as toe-in, pigeon-toe-in," club feet, bowlegs and the like.

The general problems treated by the present invention and examples of prior art were discussed at length in applicants prior application Ser. No. 374,477, filed June 28, 1973, now US. Pat. No. 3,812,850 and the same are incorporated herein by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Although the objects of applicants prior patent application, as set forth above, are still the objectives of the present application, it is also an object of the present application to take advantage of the physical forces exerted by a child suffering from the aforementioned abnormalities and deformations and to utilize the same to aid in the correction of such undesired conditions more effectively, more rapidly and more inexpensively than was heretofore enabled by prior art structures, all without the requirement of unusual training or skills.

The above description, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of a presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiment in accordance with the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view taken at an angle of the front and top of a foot splint constructed according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section of FIG. 1 taken along line 33;

FIG. 4 is a partial view of a modification of the foot splint;

FIG. 5 is a front view of a modified foot splint; and

FIG. 6 is a front view of another modified foot splint.

Referring to the drawing, the childrens corrective foot splint, illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, is generally identified by the numeral 10. It comprises a pair of foot support members 12 and 14 that are substantially planar at their upper surfaces to facilitate the positioning of the sole of a childs foot on each of such respective members. The support member 12 will accommodate the right foot of the child while the support member 14 will accommodate the left foot of the child. Each of the support members 12 and 14 is substantially identical to the other. They extend for at least and greater than the full length of the foot of the child to be positioned thereon and may be substantially equal to, but prefera bly less in width than the sole of the childs foot.

This is illustrated more clearly in FIG. 2 wherein the left and right feet respectively, shown in broken lines, are positioned on their respective foot supports 12 and 14. It will be noted that the right foot 16 and the left foot 18 is substantially shorter in length than that of each of the foot support members on which they are positioned and substantially greater in width than such foot support members for a purpose to be described. For convenience, each of the foot support members 12 and I4 is provided with a toe portion that is identified by the numeral 20. Each toe portion 20 is rounded on itsinner portion or side as at 22 while the opposite side of the toe portion 20 may be smoothly finished in any desired manner.

The foot support members 12 and 14 are generally fixed in a diverting angular relationship approximating an included angle of to cause the feet of the child to assume the desired normal included angular diverging relationship of between 30 to 40. Such foot support members 12 and 14 are retained in their generally fixed relationship by a central connecting means or portion 24. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connecting means 24 is formed unitary and coextensive with the foot support members 12 and 14.

Mounted on and forming an integral construction with each of the foot support members '12 and 14 is a respective lateral force applying support sometimes hereinafter referred to as a heel support member 26. Each heel support member 26 has its major portion 28 extending along a lengthwise outer edge adjacent or bordering the rear of each of the foot support members 12 and 14 so as to provide a laterally disposed wall against which the heel of a childs foot may be butted and engaged. As a coincidental and added attribute of the heel support members 26, each has a curve 30 directed inward for a minor portion of their extent to delineate and define the heel portion of their respective foot support members 12 and 14. The minor curve portion 30 extends around and at least beyond the midline of the childs heel. This prevents swiveling action of the childs heel and thus prevents its escape from the support 26.

Although the major extent 28 applies the lateral inward force to the heel of the child s foot, the minor portion 30 does enable the individual applying the foot splint 10 to the feet of a child to properly position the heel of each foot on the respective foot support surfaces properly against the major lateral support surfacce 28. This may be seen more clearly in FIG. 2 wherein the broken lines, illustrasting the feet 16 and 18, are shown to be in position against the surfaces 28 and 30 of the heel support member 26.

Mounted intermediate the heel portion of each support member 12 and 14 and the toe portion 20 thereof is an adjustable releasable strap securing means 32. In practice, each such strap is provided with a VELCRO fastener 34 that enables the strap to be adjusted about the instep of the childs foot to inhibit medial rotation of the forefoot. Thus, in practice, when the feet of a child are positioned flat against the upper surfaces of the foot support members 12 and 14, and abutted against the lateral force applying side walls 28, and positioned against the heel portion 30 of each heel support member 26, the strap 32 is then wrapped about the instep of the foot as illustrated in FIG. 2 and as shown in the intermediate position of FIG. 3 with the movement of the strap following the arrows 35 and 36 of FIG. 3.

When the strap 32 is so secured about the instep of the childs foot, the foot is held firmly, but not uncomfortably, against the surface of the foot supports 12 and 14. At the same time, the heel of each such foot is forcibly urged against and into engagement with their respective lateral force applying surfaces 28 of the heel support members 26. To understand this better, each strap 32 applies a lateral force that restrict the foot from rotation relative to its support 112 or 14 and is directed against the inner surface of eaeh foot in a direction that is laterally outward as illustrated by the arrows 38 in FIG. 2.

The lateral outward force 38 counters and is opposed to the lateral inward force that is exerted against the lateral outer side of each foot heel at the surfaces 28, such as is depicted by the force arrows 38 in FIG. 2. The application of the outward forces applied to the foot at the straps 32 and the inward forces applied to the outer portion of the heel of each foot as demonstrated by the arrows 39 at the surfaces 28 should be apparent to those skilled in the art. A child who suffers from a toe-in abnormality or a bowleg deformation or other similar condition normally tends to toe in at the toes and outward at the heels.

By positioning the heel of each foot against the respective surface 28, a laterally directed inward force is automatically applied against such outwardly directed heels of the child and, therefore, opposes the tendency of the child s heel to move outward. At the same time the forces applied to the childs instep at the straps 32, such as in the direction of the arrows 38, counter that force that is normally present in the childs abnormally inwardly directed toed feet. Hence, the forces 38 and 39 are opposed to each other and, in like manner, are opposed to the abnormal tendency of rotation of the childs feet that must be corrected.

By so positioning each of the feet of the child against the surfaces 28 and strapping the same in place against the foot support members 12 and 14 by the straps 32, the inward forces 39 and the outward forces 38' tend to counteract the abnormal forces that are present in a childs feet that create the abnormality or deformation that must be corrected. Once the childs foot is strapped against the foot support members 12 and 14 in the manner discribed, the application of the forces 38 and 39 will cause the legs and the feet to assume the proper divergent angle corresponding to that of the foot support surfaces 12 and 14.

In the illustration of FIG. 2, it will be noted that the large toe of each foot is shown engaged against a surface such as the surface of a bed or mattress 40. As a consequence, a further torqueing force is applied to the toes of each of the feet 16 and 18 causing them to further flex and rotate outward in the direction of the force applying arrows 38, thereby also tending to straighten and correct the abnormality or deformation. Additional adjustable straps 42 connected with and extending from the heel support members 26 are adapted to engage about the circumference of the ankle of a foot positioned on each of the foot supports 12 and 14.

The straps 42 function to retain the heel of the foot in position on each of the foot support members 12 and 14 and also to apply an outwardly directed lateral force to the ankle which is directed in opposition to the force 39 that is applied to the heel of the foot by the heel support members 26. By so strapping the ankle of the foot to each of the foot support members 12 and 14, the same assists in preventing lateral rotation of the childs heel relative to the foot support member and related structure.

Although the substantially planar foot support members 12 and 14 may be formed as a unitary continuous element made of any rigid or mildly flexible material, if desired, the planar foot support members may be made separable at the central connection means or portion 24. By so doing, each foot 16 and 18 may be more easily fixed individually to its respective foot support 12 and 14. Then, after being so fixed, the two support members 12 and 14 may be secured together in a manner to be described.

In this regard, reference is made to FIG. 4 wherein the connecting portion 24 is illustrated. One side of the connecting portion 24 may be provided with an interanl hole 44 while the other side may be provided with an engaging and positioning tongue 46. When the torque is inserted into the hole 44, the two parts of the central portion 24 are aligned and connected together with each other. The connection is made complete by a releasable fastener 48 engaging with a fastener button 50. The releasable engagement between the fastener 48 and the button 50 enables each of the foot support members l2and 14 to be connected together for conjoint use in the arrangement as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. However, for convenience of application to the feet of a child, the same may be separable from each other by disengaging the fastener 48 from the button 50 and separating the two foot support members from each other.

The natural tendency of the feet 16 and 18 afflicted with the deformations or abnormalities discussed previously is for the heels to rotate laterally outward and the toes laterally inward toward each other. That is to say, the right foot tends to rotate counterclockwise while the left foot tends to rotate clockwise. Thus, when each of thesedeformed feet are strapped to their respective support surfaces 12 and 14 and abutted against the lateral support surfaces 28, the lateral support surfaces counteract the normal rotational forces effected by the anatomy of the feet tofurther aid in the counteracting of the natural tendency of the feet to rotate inward toward each other at the toes.

To aid in the correction of the feet, the foot support members 12 and 14 are made longer in length than the foot to be supported thereon as is illustrated in FIG. 2. Although the feet 16 and 18 illustrated in FIG. 2 are shown wider in width than that of their respective support surfaces 12 and 14, in the event the feet are approximately the same width as their respective support members, the rounded ends 22 of each longer foot support member 12 and 14 will engage against the bed or mattress surface 40 in the same manner as the toe of each foot 16 and 18-is shown to be in engagement with such surface 40. During such engagement, there is an outward rotation or counteracting torqueing force applied, either to the toe of the foot directly as shown in FIG. 2 or to the rounded portion 22 of the respective foot support members 12 and 14 which produces an outward rotating force against the abnormal foot that tends to straighten and correct the abnormality. Thus, the longer members 12 and 14 add leverage to the torqueing effect of the angular divergence of the foot supports.

In. this manner, advantage is taken of the counteracting torqueing forces that may be applied to the feet of the child when the child is lying prone on a bed or mattress or other surface. Such torqueing forces tend to correct the abnormality or deformation each time the child moves because the rocking motion that occurs at the rounded ends 22 tends to rotate and toe outward each of the childs feet.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 5, the same is generally identified by the numeral that illustrated the same type of childrens corrective foot splint as previously described with respect to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 inclusive. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 differs from the previous embodiment 10 in the ability of the foot support members 12 and 14 to tilt downward at an angle of approximately as illustrated by the arrows 52. This enables the foot support members to conform to the more natural carrying angle of the foot with respect to the leg. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize that when a child is carried at the waist or above the legs, the feet have a natural tendency to fall downward at the ankles. The angle which such feet assume relative to the legs is approximately 20. Thus, under certain conditions, it may be desirable to permit the foot support members 12 and 14 to fall downward or to assume an angle that more nearly approaches the natural carrying angle of the foot with respect to the leg.

In the embodiment 100 of FIG. 5, inasmuch as all of the remaining structural details of the foot splint are the same as that previously described with respect to the embodiment 10, a repeat of such description would be redundant and superfluous. Let it suffice to note that the connection 24 between the foot support members l2 and 14 may be a rigid connection if so desired with the previously formed natural carrying angle provided therebetween. On the other hand, 24 may be a substantially flexible connection wich will permit the foot support members 12 and 14 to fall into their natural carrying angle as illustrated in FIG. 5. Moreover, the connecting means 24 may be provided with a separable arrangement of structural details such as that illustrated and described with respect to FIG. 4.

In referring to the embodiment generally identified by the numeral 200 in FIG. 6, the structural details thereof are the same as those described with respect to the embodiment 10 and, therefore, like parts are similarly numbered. Once again as in the description with respect to the embodiment 100 of FIG. 5, it is desirable to permit the foot support members 12 and 14 to conform to the natural carrying angle of the foot with respect to the leg such as was previously described. To accomplish this the connecting portion 24, like the connecting portion 24 is described with respect to the embodiment 100 of FIG. 5, enables the foot support members 12 and 14 to assume their natural carrying angle.

However, in the present embodiment, the connecting portion or means 24 is elongated in length to provide a substantial flat between the foot support members, the expanse of which may be used more easily to accommodate the releasable connection of the type described with respect to FIG. 4, thereby enabling the foot support members 12 and 14 to be separated and joined together as the case may be. Additionally, at the jointure or connections 54 between the connecting portion 24 and the foot support members 12 and 14, there is provided a yieldable or flexible joint 54 that enables each such support to assume the desired carrying angle 52.

Those skilled in the art will readily recognize that the present invention takes advantage of the natural tendency of the feet to assume their abnormality or deformation and thus utilizes these abnormal and deforming forces to counteract the abnormality or deformation and to straighten the feet or correct the undesired con dition.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the invention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A foot splint for attachment to the feet of a child for correcting toe-in and related abnormalities comprising an open unitary substantially planar support for the full length of each foot,

means between and unitary with said foot supports and connecting the same together at a fixed diverging angle.

a heel support unitary with and extending partially about each of said foot supports,

said heel supports having major and minor curved portions, said heel supports having their major curved portions extending along and for a length of its respective foot support at the lateral outer portion thereof to apply a lateral inward force to the heel of a foot positioned thereagainst and said minor curved portions being directed inward about its respective foot support for a portion thereof and delineating the heel of its respective foot support, each said heel support extending upward from said foot support for a height sufficient to apply a support agianst which the heel of a foot positioned thereagainst is restrained,

and instep strap means on each of said foot supports to engage about the instep of a foot positioned on a respective oot support to inhibit the medial rotation of the forefoot by applying a lateral outward force thereto in opposition to the lateral force of said heel support and ankle means on each of said heel supports for circumferential engagement about the ankle of a foot positioned on said foot support to apply a lateral outward force in opposition to the lateral inward force of said heel support, said foot supports being greater in length and lesser in width than that of a foot to be positioned thereon to enable said instep strap means to apply its lateral outward force to the foot.

2. A foot splint as in claim 1,

said connecting means including means operable to release each of said foot supports from their connected fixed diverging angular relation and to connect the same together in said fixed diverging angular relation.

3. A foot splint as in claim 1,

means connecting each of said foot supports such that said foot supports may tilt downward to conform to the natural carrying angle of a foot positioned on said foot supports with respect to the leg 

1. A foot splint for attachment to the feet of a child for correcting toe-in and related abnormalities comprising an open unitary substantially planar support for the full length of each foot, means between and unitary with said foot supports and connecting the same together at a fixed diverging angle. a heel support unitary with and extending partially about each of said foot supports, said heel supports having major and minor curved portions, said heel supports having their major curved portions extending along and for a length of its respective foot support at the lateral outer portion thereof to apply a lateral inward force to the heel of a foot positioned thereagainst and said minor curved portions being directed inward about its respective foot support for a portion thereof and delineating the heel of its respective foot support, each said heel support extending upward from said foot support for a height sufficient to apply a support agianst which the heel of a foot positioned thereagainst is restrained, and instep strap means on each of said foot suppOrts to engage about the instep of a foot positioned on a respective foot support to inhibit the medial rotation of the forefoot by applying a lateral outward force thereto in opposition to the lateral force of said heel support and ankle means on each of said heel supports for circumferential engagement about the ankle of a foot positioned on said foot support to apply a lateral outward force in opposition to the lateral inward force of said heel support, said foot supports being greater in length and lesser in width than that of a foot to be positioned thereon to enable said instep strap means to apply its lateral outward force to the foot.
 2. A foot splint as in claim 1, said connecting means including means operable to release each of said foot supports from their connected fixed diverging angular relation and to connect the same together in said fixed diverging angular relation.
 3. A foot splint as in claim 1, means connecting each of said foot supports such that said foot supports may tilt downward to conform to the natural carrying angle of a foot positioned on said foot supports with respect to the leg thereof. 